Caleb Williams reveals the biggest challenge of winning back-to-back Heisman Trophies

USC QB Caleb Williams wants to make a whole lot of history during what some see as his final college season. However, he realizes that the best way to do so is to place his focus on the success of the Trojans first and foremost.

Williams addressed the possibility of winning back-to-back Heisman Trophies, which Archie Griffin did as the only person to accomplish that in the history of the sport, on SportsCenter while at Pac-12 Media Days. With how difficult the feat is, he understands that his chance lies in leading USC to wins week after week. Once that’s done, he’ll let the personal rewards come from there.

“It’s just being yourself” said Williams. “Everybody always says it’s hard to do something twice, especially back-to-back. So you’ve got to focus on the main thing, which is winning games.”

“You want to go out there and win every game and go 1-0 each week. If you do the math and you end up being 15-0? You get to hoist a trophy that you really want,” Williams said. “But, also, when you do something like that? It also makes it a lot easier to go out and then your self-accolades and self-goals are more easily accomplished.”

One thing that will be working against Williams is trying to top what he did last season. It’s one of the things that killed Bryce Young’s chances at going back-to-back with the Heisman Trophy while at Alabama last season. It’s going to be very difficult, although not impossible considering his talent and USC’s offense, for him to top his 4,500-plus passing yards and 42 touchdowns stat line from his first season in Los Angeles.

With that said, that’s where we reach Williams’ conclusion. He was able to win the Heisman Trophy last season with those numbers with the Trojans going 11-3. If he can lead them to more wins, which, in this case, would mean success in the postseason? That could be all he needs to be back in the running considering where many expect his numbers to be.

Again, Griffin, in the mid-70s for context, is the only Heisman winner to hold it for consecutive seasons. Even so, Williams believes he has the blueprint to do it which, in his mind, starts with keeping USC in contention in 2023.

Williams explains importance of winning Pac-12 in USC’s final year

USC will enter its final season in the Pac-12 before heading to the Big Ten as the favorite to hoist the league trophy. With that in mind, Trojan QB Caleb Williams has every intention of leaving the conference with a bang.

Williams spoke on SportsCenter today while at Pac-12 Media Days about his team’s last shot at a Pac-12 Championship. He said it’s a big deal because of how many league titles, 37 to be exact, they have to their name. Now, with a chance to win their 38th before heading out east, Williams’ only focus is on making history.

“That’s huge,” Williams said. “There’s no pressure added or anything like that. But it’s huge just for the simple fact that USC has been, like you said, dominant in this league. And so to go out with a bang and go out on top is important.”

“Whether we don’t or whether we do? It’s going to be history. So let’s make history,” said Williams. “The good part about it is us going out on top.”